Stamping and forming machine having adjustable stroke rams

Abstract

Stamping and forming machine having reciprocable rams which move towards and away from each other between open and closed positions having adjustable eccentrics for adjusting the strokes of the rams. The rams are reciprocated by oscillating levers which are coupled to a power shaft by eccentric assemblies. Each eccentric assembly has a fixed eccentric on the power shaft and an adjustable eccentric which is rotatable, for adjustment purposes, with respect to the fixed eccentric thereby to change the stroke of the associated ram assembly.

I claim: 
     
       1. A machine comprising at least one reciprocable ram, a power shaft and an eccentric assembly for reciprocating the ram, the machine being characterized in that: the eccentric assembly comprises a fixed eccentric and an adjustable eccentric, the fixed eccentric being fixed to the shaft, the adjustable eccentric surrounding the fixed eccentric and being rotatable, for adjustment purposes, with respect to the fixed eccentric, and disengageable securing means for securing the adjustable eccentric in position relative to the fixed eccentric including a coupling collar fixed to the fixed eccentric and a coupling sleeve coupled to the adjustable eccentric and movable into coupled engagement with the coupling collar and movable in an opposite direction for disengagement from the coupling collar,   whereby, the length of the stroke of the rams can be changed by adjusting the position of the adjustable eccentric on the fixed eccentric.   
     
     
       2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that the securing means is automatically disengaged when the adjustable eccentric is adjusted. 
     
     
       3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 characterized in that a lever is provided which is pivoted between its ends on a fixed pivotal axis, one end of the lever being coupled to the eccentric assembly by a crank, the other end of the lever being coupled to the ram. 
     
     
       4. A machine comprising first and second ram assemblies which are reciprocable towards and away from each other between forward and retracted positions, first and second actuator levers for reciprocating the ram assemblies, each lever being coupled to its associated ram assembly and having a fixed pivot, a power shaft, the first and second levers being coupled to the power shaft by first and second eccentric coupling assemblies, the machine being characterized in that: each of the eccentric coupling assemblies comprises a fixed eccentric and an adjustable eccentric, the fixed eccentric being fixed on the power shaft, the adjustable eccentric surrounding the fixed eccentric and being rotatable, relative to the fixed eccentric, for adjustment purposes, and disengageable securing means for securing the adjustable eccentric in position relative to the fixed eccentric including a coupling collar fixed to the fixed eccentric and a coupling sleeve coupled to the adjustable eccentric and movable into coupled engagement with the coupling collar and movable in an opposite direction for disengagement from the coupling collar,   whereby, the lengths of the strokes of the ram assemblies can be adjusted by adjusting the positions of the adjustable eccentrics relative to the fixed eccentrics.   
     
     
       5. A machine as set forth in claim 4 characterized in that each securing means is automatically disengaged when the adjustable eccentric is adjusted. 
     
     
       6. A machine as set forth in claim 5 characterized in that a single adjusting means is provided for disengaging the securing means of the first and second eccentric assemblies, for adjusting the positions of the adjustable eccentrics of the first and second eccentric assemblies, and for then re-engaging the securing means. 
     
     
       7. A machine as set forth in claim 4, characterized in that each of the actuator levers is pivoted intermediate its ends, one end of each lever being connected to its associated eccentric assembly, the other end of each lever being coupled to its associated ram assembly. 
     
     
       8. A machine as set forth in claim 7 characterized in that each adjustable eccentric comprises an eccentric collar which surrounds its associated fixed eccentric, each of the eccentric couplings comprises a crank which extends from the associated adjustable eccentric to the associated lever. 
     
     
       9. A machine as set forth in claim 8 characterized in that each crank has a crank collar which surrounds its associated adjustable eccentric. 
     
     
       10. A machine as set forth in claim 4 characterized in that each fixed coupling collar is fixed to, and surrounding, its associated fixed eccentric, the movable coupling sleeve being movable axially on its associated fixed eccentric between a coupled position and an uncoupled position, the movable coupling sleeve being coupled to its associated fixed collar when in its coupled position and being uncoupled from its associated fixed collar when in its uncoupled position whereby the adjustable eccentric is coupled to the associated fixed eccentric when the movable sleeve is in its coupled position and the adjustable eccentric is uncoupled from the associated fixed eccentric when the movable sleeve is in its uncoupled position. 
     
     
       11. A machine as set forth in claim 10 characterized in that the movable coupling sleeve is connected to the adjustable eccentric by axially extending pin means, the pin means being fixed to the movable sleeve and extending slidably into the adjustable eccentric. 
     
     
       12. A machine as set forth in claim 4 characterized in that each fixed coupling collar is fixed to, and surrounding, the associated fixed eccentric, the movable coupling sleeve surrounding the associated fixed eccentric and being axially movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the adjustable eccentric being engaged with the fixed coupling collar when the movable coupling sleeve is in its engaged position and being disengaged from the fixed coupling collar when the movable coupling sleeve is in its disengaged position. 
     
     
       13. A machine as set forth in claim 12 characterized in that each movable coupling sleeve is coupled to its associated adjustable eccentric by axially extending pins. 
     
     
       14. A machine as set forth in claim 13 characterized in that the axially extending pins are fixed to the movable coupling sleeve and are slidably received in the associated adjustable eccentric. 
     
     
       15. A machine as set forth in claim 12 characterized in that a single adjusting means is provided for disengaging the securing means of the first and second eccentric assemblies, for adjusting the positions of the adjustable eccentrics of the first and second eccentric assemblies, and for then reengaging the securing means. 
     
     
       16. A machine as set forth in claim 15 characterized in that the single adjusting means comprises an adjusting shaft which extends parallel to the power shaft, gears on the adjusting shaft, and gears on the adjustable eccentrics, the adjusting shaft being movable laterally of its axis towards and away from the power shaft between an adjacent position and a remote position, the gears on the adjusting shaft being meshed with the gears on the adjustable eccentric when the adjusting shaft is in its adjacent position whereby rotation of the adjusting shaft will cause rotation of the adjustable eccentrics. 
     
     
       17. A stamping and forming machine comprising first and second aligned ram assemblies which are reciprocable towards and away from each other along paths of reciprocation between retracted positions and forward positions, first and second levers for reciprocating the first and second ram assemblies, one end of each lever being coupled to its associated ram assembly, the levers being pivotally mounted on first and second pivotal axes, a power shaft, the first and second levers being coupled to the power shaft by first and second eccentric assemblies, the machine being characterized in that: the first eccentric assembly comprises a first fixed eccentric, a first adjustable eccentric, and a first crank, the second eccentric assembly comprising a second fixed eccentric, a second adjustable eccentric, and a second crank, each of the fixed eccentrics being fixed to the power shaft, each of the adjustable eccentrics surrounding its associated fixed eccentrics and being rotatable, for adjustment purposes, with respect to its associated fixed eccentric, each of the cranks extending from its associated adjustable eccentric to its associated lever and being pivotally connected to its associated lever, and each first and second eccentric assembly includes a disengageable securing means for securing its adjustable eccentric in position relative to its fixed eccentric including a coupling collar fixed to the fixed eccentric and a coupling sleeve coupled to the adjustable eccentric and movable into coupled engagement with the coupling collar and movable in an opposite direction for disengagement from the coupling collar,   whereby, the lengths of the strokes of the ram assemblies can be changed by adjusting the positions of the adjustable eccentrics.   
     
     
       18. A machine as set forth in claim 17 characterized in that each of the cranks has an inner end which is coupled to its associated adjustable eccentric and an outer end which is pivotally connected to its associated lever, the inner end of the second crank having a pair of spaced apart arms, the inner end of the first crank being between the arms. 
     
     
       19. A machine as set forth in claim 18 characterized in that in each eccentric assembly the securing means is automatically disengaged when the adjustable eccentric is adjusted. 
     
     
       20. A machine as set forth in claim 19 characterized in that each fixed coupling collar is fixed to, and surrounding, its associated fixed eccentric, the movable coupling collar being movable axially on its associated fixed eccentric between a coupled position and an uncoupled position, the movable coupling collar being coupled to its associated fixed collar when in its coupled position and being uncoupled from its associated fixed collar when in its uncoupled position whereby the adjustable eccentric is coupled to the associated fixed eccentric when the movable collar is in its coupled position and the adjustable eccentric is uncoupled from the associated fixed eccentric when the movable collar is in its uncoupled position. 
     
     
       21. A machine as set forth in claim 20 characterized in that the movable coupling collar is connected to the adjustable eccentric by axially extending pin means, the pine means being fixed to the movable collar and extending slidably into the adjustable eccentric. 
     
     
       22. A machine as set forth in claim 21 characterized in that a single adjusting means is provided for disengaging the securing means of the first and second eccentric assemblies, for adjusting the positions of the adjustable eccentrics of the first and second eccentric assemblies, and for then reengaging the securing means. 
     
     
       23. A machine as set forth in claim 22 characterized in that the single adjusting means comprises an adjusting shaft which extends parallel to the power shaft, gears on the adjusting shaft, and gears on the adjustable eccentrics, the adjusting shaft being movable laterally of its axis towards and away from the power shaft between an adjacent position and a remote position, the gears being meshed when the adjusting shaft is in its adjacent position whereby rotation of the adjusting shaft will cause rotation of the adjustable eccentrics.